Panic gripped a sun-scorched beach today after a man suffered a heart attack in the sweltering heat.

There was some 3,000 people on Tramore Beach in Co Waterford when the airlift rescue took place yesterday lunchtime.

The drama at the seaside resort unfolded as forecasters issued a yellow weather warning, with temperatures topping out at 30C around the country.

A doctor and nurse who had been enjoying the sun at Tramore ran to the man’s aid and raised the alarm as he suffered a cardiac arrest.

A dramatic, co-ordinated rescue was sparked, with a coastguard helicopter arriving on the beach and whisking the man to hospital within minutes.

The man was then lifted from the beach into a Skirorsky Rescue 117 helicopter and flown to University Hospital Waterford.

He was treated at the hospital but his condition was not last night known.

An MRCC spokesman yesterday said that the centre received a call from the “the air medical ambulance control centre” about reports that a man had suffered a cardiac arrest.

A spokesman said: “The Tramore Coast Guard [unit] was tasked and the person was taken to Ardkeen (UHW).”

Local woman Siobhan O’Neill wrote on Facebook: “I hope the man is OK. I never saw the prom wall so full. The poor man was extremely lucky to have a Doctor and a nurse working on him – who just happened to be on the beach.”

Photographer, Daniel O’Neill, added: “The helicopter was going up and down the beach about one hundred feet in the air.

“I saw the Coast Guard, ambulances and the gardai. I’d say there was about three thousand people there.”

The shocking incident took place as Met Eireann issued a weather warning due to the searing heat. As temperatures soared towards 30C yesterday, the national forecaster warned people not to overexpose themselves in the sun.

The warning is issued when temperatures exceed 28C.

A forecaster said: “Leinster would have been one of the hottest areas today. There as well as the Midlands.

“We would be looking at highest temperatures of about 29.4C today.”

Some DART services to Sutton station in Dublin were also cancelled for a time yesterday due to fears gangs of youths would invade the picturesque Howth beach.

A Garda spokesman said the reason for the temporary action was down to crowd control issues.

He said: “Because of the day that’s in it, we assume that a lot of people are on the way to Howth. Certain trains are stopping [at Sutton], and certain trains are going through.”

“The station is not closed, but trains are only stopping on a selected basis. It is a rolling decision for the day.”

A vicious brawl broke out at the end of last month as hundreds of teenagers clashed in the sunshine.

Many were left injured in the melee in north Dublin.

Thousands of people across the country hit beaches, parks and beer gardens yesterday as the heatwave continued.

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year and while the mercury might dip in the coming days we are still in for sprays of sunshine.

The Irish Pharmacy Union urged everyone to take care of themselves as they enjoy the weather.

Pharmacists advised people to drink plenty of fluids, wear lightweight loose-fitting clothing and to stay indoors during the hottest parts of the day.

They also urged revellers to always wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses when out.

Bernard Duggan, Pharmacist and Honorary Treasurer of the IPU, said, “It’s important that people take some precautionary steps to enjoy this glorious weather. Drinking lots of fluids is especially important especially for older people who may be less aware that they are becoming dehydrated.

“We would also like to remind people to wear sunscreen and to talk to their pharmacist if they are unsure what to use. By not being sun smart people are putting themselves at risk.”

Meanwhile, elderly charity Age Action urged people to care for their neighbours as the heatwave continues to grip the nation.

Spokesman Eamon Timmins said: “While the warm weather is welcome, it can pose difficulties for older people, especially those with respiratory and heart problems.

“Certain medications can also reduce people’s tolerance of heat.

“With temperatures due to reach up to 30 degrees in the coming days older people should try to remain in the shade at the hottest times of the day, pulling curtains on windows which are exposed to the sun, sipping on cold drinks to remain hydrated, turning off unnecessary electrical equipment and leaving windows open to let air circulate.

“We are not used to high temperatures in Ireland, but people should be aware that heatwaves in other countries have resulted in increased deaths among older people.

“Everyone can play their part to ensure that everyone remains well during the current warm spell.”